Aqua Nail Bar and Boutique

I stopped by Aqua Nail Bar on upper State street today because their esthetician answered my question on my blog -- Aqua carries Eminence Skin Care. Their supply is limited now, but after talking with the owner Claudia, it sounds like they will be getting more. Claudia was very helpful in sharing more info with me regarding the Eminence product line and raves about their peels which I also love to use on myself and the clients I work with for facials. Thank you Claudia for the helpful info!

Sharon Bolton Scents

While at Treat today I discoverd Sharon Bolton Scents -- I love finding unique products made in Santa Barbara! My favorite scents were Luv and Soul! Has anyone else tried her scents?

Nouba Cosmetics at Skin Deep

Skin Deep is now offering Nouba Cosmetics from Italy! Skin Deep is offering a FREE one hour makeup application (value $70) with purchase of 3 or more Nouba products. Call to schedule an appointment on Friday November 3rd 11-4!

Retail Therapy in Santa Barbara!

I indulged in a little retail therapy today and visited some of my fave places in town to get my favorite products! I went to Le Reve and got a LOT of the Jurlique Rose Hand Cream which is my all time favorite hand cream (I do have a few other favorites though!). If you spend $150 or more on Jurlique products at Le Reve you get a free gift with free Jurlique cleanser, hand cream, herbal recovery gel, aromamist, wrinkle softener and lip treatment! I also stopped by Treat and picked up a few bath fizz treats for gifts (50% off!) and I stopped by Skin Deep to pick up my mineral liquid makeup by Youngblood -- I love it! I also got Dr. Murad fruit enzyme peel mask which I am excited to try -- exfoliation is key to glowing skin! Skin Deep is having 30% off all of their Halloween gifts so I could not resist the "gummy bloody fingers." Last stop...Lazy Acres for one of my favorite products -- Skin Eternal Serum with DMAE, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C Ester.

Eminence Skin Care

Does any spa or beauty product store in Santa Barbara sell Eminence? I would like to buy some of their masks and exfoliators.

Napa Valley site visitor!

What a GREAT service your site (and you) offer. Thank you so much
for all of the information on local spas. I will check it out the information later today and will definitely be in touch...and will recommend your site to everyone here
at Premier Pacific Vineyards in Napa Valley.

Thanks Melissa.

Julianna
Napa Valley

Congratulations Day Spa of Ojai!

Rick (Spa Defined's photographer) went to Ojai a week ago to photograph the beautiful grounds of the Day Spa of Ojai. The flowers were beautiful and the spa has a new meditation garden....so peaceful! The Day Spa of Ojai was just awarded "The Best Day Spa" in the Ojai Valley for the 4th year in a row. They will be recognized for this award this Saturday downtown at "Ojai Day." Congratulations to Kim Wachter (the owner) and the rest of the staff!

I am giving facials in Solvang!

I wanted to let you know that I am now giving facials at Enchante
Cottage Spa in Solvang! I am only working Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays. 1 hour Facial treatments are $65, but for your first facial,
it is only $50.

Why would you want to drive all the way to Solvang for a facial?...it's
a beautiful drive and the environment of Enchante is so adorable and
cozy -- Take a photo tour! Plus I give a lovely facial:)! Perhaps even you can make a day of it -- do some wine tasting or stop by the Clairmont Lavendar farms! Also, the owner Deb, gives fantastic pedicures offering warm lavendar wraps and homemade scones upon your arrival.

If you would like to schedule a facial or have questions, please email
me at melissa@spadefined.com or call at 805-252-8631.

Reminder -- Skin Care Seminar Tomorrow!

Skin Essentials Skin Care Spa is hosting a skin informational seminar tomorrow, October 15th from 1-5 at the Cabrillo Arts Center -- 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Call 805-695-8699 for more information!

Osea skin care

Teresa Borgatello-Carlson, owner of Bellezza Vita in Summerland, gave me a cleanser product to try -- Osea Cleansing Mudd. I tend to have breakouts in the chin area and usually respond best with more clinical products and always lean on Proactiv. However, I have really loved trying this product. It has wonderful ingredients, which I thought would be too "natural" for my skin, but my skin looks and feels great. The cleansing mudd has: essential oils of tea trea, peppermint (which gives it a great scent), green and red algae, rosemary, sage and lavender just to name a few.

Montecito Bodyworks October specials!

Montecito Bodyworks, a Spa Defined member, is featuring awesome October specials -- Swedish massage for $60! Jacque Jackson, the owner and therapist, is very good and I love her deep tissue massages. It's October -- TREAT YOURSELF!

Cielo has a new website!

Cielo has a beautiful new website! Be sure to visit Cielo on Spa Defined for a photo tour and my review of her dreamy signature treatment -- The Champagne Duet -- I was in heaven! Click on her new website link or just go to www.cielospasb.com for a list of all of her treatments and prices.

Lavender farm in Maui!

I was so excited to discover a lavender farm in Maui given I love lavender and love Maui!:) I signed up for a free e-newsletter and always love to read the events coming up and health tips regarding lavender. The website is www.aliikulalavender.com.

I always think of how fun it would be to buy and live on a lavender farm....I would love to retire living and working on a lavender farm! California property is so expensive, but a girl can dream!

When I visited my brother in Austin Texas, I discovered a handful of lavender farms near Fredericksburg. Land is much more affordable there too. Most of them have websites, but there are so many -- email me if you want the websites to all of them!

At least once a month I visit Clairmont Farms in Los Olivos too! It's only a 30 minute drive from where I live in Santa Barbara. I will usually pack a picnic and go to a winery and then visit the lavender farm....it's a typical dreamy California day -- it's days like this that remind me why I moved here!

Facial Acupuncture -- Clinic Open House!

SBCOM is having a clinic open house TOMORROW from 6-7 pm. There will be tai qi demos, acupuncture demos and facial acupuncture demos! I have received facial acupuncture from Julia Dubiel and love it! It's very relaxing, healing and improves my skin tone. Visit SBCOM for more info on the Open House or call 805-687-7328.

Indulgence Home Spa

Cheers to Carol of Indulgence Home Spa, a member of Spa Defined. She was mentioned in the most recent Your Wedding Day Magazine (YWD). Good job Carol on all of your hard work!

Pedi Party at SBCOM!!!

Carol of Indulgence Home Spa came to my office today at SBCOM. She pampered Teresa, Julia and Joyce with pedicures! These ladies sure deserved a little down time! I love working with them!

**TESTIMONIAL** Fan Mail for local Spa

Feeling healthy is important to me and that includes regular skin care. Because I am an avid equestrian, my skin is exposed to sun and dirt. At Skin Resolutions, Lynda takes into account my active lifestyle and has the expertise, technology and product lines to keep my skin looking young. My teenager is also a client and the staff at Skin Resolutions has educated her about taking good care of her skin- and it shows. Christine Kelley-Buchanan

Massage Room for Rent

Peaches Skin Care has a room available for rent to a massage therapist. Visit their website for more information on the personality of the spa. It is conveniently located on the corner of Mission and Chapala. Email nicole@peachesskincare.com for more information.

Competition of Estheticians in SB

I recently had an interesting and somewhat discouraging conversation with a fellow esthetician in SB. She shared with me that as an esthetician she loves to give facials and make others feel wonderful about their skin. And of course she likes to receive facials herself!

Here's the discouraging part -- my friend tried to make an appointment with another esthetician in town, but when the other esthetician learned that my friend owned her own skin care spa, she was reluctant in giving her a facial, cancelled the appointment and then wouldn't even return her calls. My friend was truly upset and sad about this situation explaining she simply wanted and needed a facial; she had no intentions other than wanting a nice facial!

I think a group of estheticians in SB should all get together and treat one another with a facial and support one another's business. The way I see it, we are all wise women starting a business in Santa Barbara and we should support one another. From the perspective of the spa reviewer, I can say that each spa is different and each offers something special and unique. There is plenty of business to go around.